Chinwe Nwachuku, the Gombe State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has appealed to Governor Muhammadu Yahaya for immediate action after a windstorm wrecked parts of the NYSC orientation camp in Amada, Akko Local Government Area.
Nwachuku made the statement on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony for the 2025 Batch ‘A’ Stream II corps recruits.
Nwachuku said, “I want to seize this opportunity to profoundly thank His Excellency for the love the scheme enjoys in Gombe State.
“But as we are gathered here today, it is with tears in my eyes that I want to bring to the attention of His Excellency a very pressing concern that affects the welfare and safety of not just these vibrant young men and women but the entire camp community.”
She said the storm, which struck on Tuesday, blew off the roof of the NYSC camp’s multipurpose pavilion and damaged several hostels, leaving some rooms leaking or fully exposed.
“This pavilion serves as a vital hub for our activities, and it has been severely blown off. Some rooms are not just leaking but are open.
“It will be wicked of the camp community to pray against rain during this planting season, but my children are always wondering what their fate will be in case of rainfall,” she stated.
Nwachuku asked the governor to consider an immediate intervention to repair the damaged facilities and provide a safe and conducive atmosphere for corps members.
“Your support will not only provide a safe and conducive environment but also inspire and motivate these young individuals to serve our state with renewed vigour,” she said.
Nwachuku thanked Yahaya for his continuous support of the initiative, as well as Justice Halima Mohammed, the state’s Chief Judge, who was represented by Justice Zainab Abdulkadir and administered the oath to 1,629 corps members.
The freshly sworn-in NYSC corps members are 893 men and 736 women.
Nwachuku welcomed the corps members and asked them to serve with discipline and follow local laws and customs.
Yahaya, represented by Deputy Governor Dr Manassah Jatau, reassured the corps members that their well-being remains a top concern.
He advised them to accept cultural diversity and refrain from forcing their views on host communities.
“Your own tradition, culture, and norms are not general beliefs; adapt to the culture of your environment. “It’s our expectation that your batch will excel and be guided by the norms of NYSC,” he said.
The ceremony marked the start of a three-week orientation training for corps members assigned to Gombe State.
